Raleigh – Students and parents across North Carolina will be strapping on their helmets and backpacks and pedaling their way to school on Wed., May 7, in celebration of the third annual National Bike to School Day.

Schools, cities, bicycle groups, public organizations and parents alike are organizing bike rides and bike trains to school to highlight and celebrate the benefits of choosing student-powered transportation to school.

Thirty-seven schools across North Carolina, from Winston-Salem to Nags Head, have registered for the third annual event. The total number of events is expected to grow as celebrations continue throughout May, which is National Bike Month. More than 1,700 schools across the country participated in last year’s event.

"Bicycling to school is a fun way to include physical activity into the daily routine and help prepare kids for a day of learning,” said Lauren A. Blackburn, director of the Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation. "Events like this are great examples of partners at the state and local level working together to help kids and families develop healthy habits.

The N.C. Department of Transportation and the N.C. Division of Public Health work together to support walking and biking to school through Active Routes to School. Active Routes to School is a North Carolina Safe Routes to School project encouraging safe and active travel to and from school by promoting a safe, appealing environment for walking and biking.

National Bike to School Day is coordinated by the National Center for Safe Routes to School and joins the excitement surrounding National Bike Month, led by the League of American Bicyclists each May. Bike to School Day gives communities across the country the opportunity to join together in bicycling to school on the same day. The national event is part of the movement for year-round safe routes to school and encourages bicycling to school as a healthy way for kids and families to make their school commute.

Schools parents and community members can register their Bike to School Day event through the end of May at www.walkbiketoschool.org